Closings

Severe Weather

Large boat found washed up at Kawela Bay

More possible tsunami debris has washed up on the north shore of Oahu.

Covered in barnacles, a 20-to-25-foot skiff was reported to have floated into Kawela Bay on Wednesday. The Department of Land and Natural Resources believes it may be from Japan.

On Thursday, the DLNR sent out a crew to inspect the boat. Officials did not find any invasive species, though they still haven't been able to check inside the hull because the vessel is heavy and stuck in the sand.

The crew was able to find the vessel identification and has given it to NOAA. The ID will be sent to the Japanese government to see if the owner wants it back.

The DLNR says the person who found the boat has claimed it, so if no one wants it, that person would get it.

The DLNR plans on removing the boat as soon as it can but there's no timetable yet on the project. The boat is currently anchored to a tree and isn't harming any coral.

This is not the first boat to be recovered in Hawaii. Last month the DLNR removed a boat that washed up on Malaekahana Beach. Last December, a 24-foot vessel was found on the shore in Punalu'u and prior to that in September, fishermen found a boat floating at sea. The DLNR expects more large debris to make its way to Hawaii's shores.

If you come across any large pieces of possible tsunami debris, the DLNR is asking for you to report it.